A passenger plane has crashed in Nepal after sliding off an airport runway and igniting into a deadly fireball killing 18 people.
Dramatic video of the accident shows thick black smoke rising from the airport and plane debris scattered across a ditch as onlookers gather on a nearby road, watching in shock.
Another clip shows flames engulfing an outbuilding at the airport, which serves Nepal’s capital. The fire has since been extinguished.
The Saurya Airlines aircraft was carrying 19 people when it veered off the tarmac during takeoff at Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu. The incident was confirmed by the airport around 11am local time on Wednesday morning.
READ MORE: How Jay Slater case gripped the nation – five reasons missing teen had everyone talking
Click here for the latest news from the Daily Star
Tragically, at least 18 passengers lost their lives in the crash, with all bodies being recovered from the wreckage, according to police reports. It’s believed that only the pilot survived and is currently receiving treatment for injuries.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The aircraft, owned by domestic carrier Saurya Airlines, was en route from Kathmandu to the resort town of Pokhara, as reported by Nepal Television. The cause of the plane’s skid remains unclear and the final casualty count is yet to be confirmed, reports the Mirror.
According to the Himalayan Times, the 19 individuals on board were technical staff, with no commercial passengers present. Security officials at the airport have stated the pilot has been transported to hospital.
Despite suffering eye injuries, the pilot is not in any immediate danger, a doctor at the hospital told media. The bodies have been taken to the T.U. Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for post-mortem examinations. Tribhuvan International Airport has been shut down, with emergency teams operating at the scene.
(Image: @ekantipur_com/X)
A search operation is currently in progress, with concerns that the death toll may increase. Despite it being monsoon season in Kathmandu, there was no rain at the time of the crash. However, visibility across the capital was poor.
Saurya Airlines uses the Bombardier CRJ 200 for domestic routes. Nepal has previously faced criticism for numerous incidents of poor air safety.
All 72 individuals aboard another domestic flight – including Brit Ruan Calum Crighton – perished in January last year when Yeti Airlines flight 691 stalled and crashed while landing at Pokhara.
The aircraft was making its final approach after departing from Kathmandu when it crashed into a river bank. This catastrophic event was live-streamed on Facebook by one passenger, showing that those onboard were oblivious until moments before impact.
It was later confirmed that the crash was caused by pilots mistakenly cutting power.
In September 1992, a Pakistani International Airlines flight also crashed into a hillside while coming in to land at Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board. The disaster was the worst to ever occur in Nepal.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.